Ewe losing wool in chunks

k mac · 23-11-2022 2:20pm #1

Ive a suffolk cross hogget running with the ram that all of a sudden has lost big chunks of wool right down to the skin (will attach pics later). Have not seen her scratching or anything, and is in good condition and eating, does not seem to have any ill effects. She was dosed for fluke six weeks ago with the test of the flock, also has not got penicillin recently as i know that can cause wool loss. Has been on good grass and has access to mineral buckets.

Any ideas of the cause, and best course of treatment might be (Considering she is recently tipped).

Could it be scab, i did not dip them or use anything as they were only sheared in late august, had been done with clik in may. A few weeks after shearing did them with clik again but it was well watered down. If it is does the whole flock need treating.

Jonnyc135 · 23-11-2022 2:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058273004/ewe-losing-wool-in-chunks

Is there any yellowish crusty looking skin/colour where the wool is falling out?

if there is then it may well be scab but you would think they would be itching along with the rest of the flock as if one has it them all have it.

Clik has no effect on scab mite, Invermectin, Dectomax or Cydectin are pretty much useless against scab now so the only real way get rid of it is plunge dipping with diazinon dip.

k mac · 23-11-2022 3:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119911426#Comment_119911426

Thanks for that reply. I have small numbers so i think getting them plunge dipped would be a problem, is there any product i can spray on with the knapsack sprayer? Not as good i know but may help.

White Clover · 23-11-2022 4:44pm

I heard somewhere that a ewe as you describe has/is recovered from some form of sickness or ailment in the previous couple of months.

k mac · 23-11-2022 4:45pm

Took a few pics..no yellowish skin where its falling out...its very easy to pull the wool of her comes away in lumps with ease..

White Clover · 23-11-2022 4:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119911677#Comment_119911677

Plunge dipping is a great job. A man I know that buys lambs to fatten mixes up his own dip in a concrete trough and dips them in it.

Jonnyc135 · 23-11-2022 5:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119912068#Comment_119912068

Yeah tankfully we havent had scab here in along time but last time we did it, that bare pink skin had a yellowish crusty look off it and they sheep were scratching every gate or fence the could find.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119912070#Comment_119912070

Yeah I got stung before with store lambs and last few years always got plunge dipped when they arrived, it was amazing how well the jumped on grass after worming out, plunge dipping and mineral dose. I seen suffolk x ewe lambs jump from 26kg to 34 in the space of a month of average grass alone. Plus the added bonus of them looking alot cleaner too.

razor8 · 23-11-2022 6:53pm

Hard to tell but fluke would be a possibility. What with & when we’re they last dosed for fluke?

wrangler · 23-11-2022 6:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119912064#Comment_119912064

Yea, some of the antibiotics will make them lose their wool

Country lad · 23-11-2022 8:43pm

well i used to have a ewe here that used tp lose her wool every year so if its not scab would .t be too worried about here as i just used to pull the lose wool off of her to stop here losing wool all over the field

k mac · 23-11-2022 10:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119913092#Comment_119913092

I have a ewe the same but she loses all her wool after lambing...I'd be a bit more worried about this one facing into the winter out with no fleece

k mac · 24-11-2022 8:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119912602#Comment_119912602

They were treated with flukiver on the 20th of October

k mac · 24-11-2022 9:41am

think even though it doesnt look like scab, i might just go ahead and give her an ivomec classic injection and repeat a week later to treat for scab. hopefully if its something else it might do her no harm

kk.man · 24-11-2022 1:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119914503#Comment_119914503

You will have to to the whole lot.

I think the ewe was 'sick' and recovered. Wool loss can be down to a high temperature.

k mac · 24-11-2022 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119915762#Comment_119915762

I was thinking it would be best do the lot but there are all tipped and with the ram, and i would prefer try not handle or herd them much during this time, the less stress the better. Injected her there and noticed around her ears some hair is also gone and theres a kind of red rash on them

k mac · 30-11-2022 11:08am

Update i injected her with ivomec a week ago, will give the second injection tomorrow, she has got alot worse with red spots like little cuts on the skin where the wool is gone. As i said i don't like gthering the rest and handling them but i think i better treat them all. As the rest have no signs do they still need 2 injections, or just 1 for prevention. Also how long after the injection is there any sign of improvement, and what are they ...not loosing more wool, wool growing back.

Jonnyc135 · 30-11-2022 11:38am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119938910#Comment_119938910

If its ivomec or invermectin they need 2 injections 2 weeks apart, I'll be honest if it is scab invermectin is useless really as there is serious resisrance problems now.

Ino u were saying u have small numbers so plunge dipping may be off the cards, that really is the only way to kill everything, but you could try the invermectin and maybe get some sheep dip and mix it up and power wash them at very low pressure or watering can.

I don't like advising this as diazinon sheep dip is made of organophosphate chemicals which was invented by a Russian scientist when making chemical weapons like siren gas and novochok. Prolong exposure will **** up your nervous system if the correct PPE is not used.

Don't get me wrong I am no angel either but it's really bad stuff.

wrangler · 30-11-2022 12:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119939048#Comment_119939048

+ 1 on all of that, There's far too much ivermectin used for scab and that's why it's useless for worming now on a lotof farms.

I add aluminium sulphate to the dip as well to heal cuts and help the feet, it would be ideal for Kmacs case where the skin of the sheep is cut, it'd even be a help if you were power washing them.

k mac · 01-12-2022 11:20am

What dilution rate should i use for the hygeia dip putting it on with the sprayer

Jonnyc135 · 01-12-2022 11:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119943729#Comment_119943729

I usually go double what you would for plunge dipping as it will be not as long as 1 minute submerged as you would in a dipper, dont sue me now if you get parkinsons disease from it, make sure wear good mask, googles and gloves as it will be alot more concentrated.

Ewe losing wool in chunks

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